IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


k 


A 


// 


^  J^^^, 


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:/ 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


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1^  1^ 


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1.8 


14    III  1.6 


Photogi^piiic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  M5S0 

(716)  872-4503 


'% 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pellicul^e 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le 


titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int6rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  ix6  filmdes. 


L'Institut  a  microfilmd  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul6es 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachetdes  ou  piquees 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detach6es 

r~y  Showthrough/ 
LLd    Transparence 

□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualit^  in^gale  de  I'impression 

□    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Seule  Edition  disponibie 

Pages  wholly  or  partidlly  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t^  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  facon  h 
obtenir  la  meilieure  image  possible. 


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Th 
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fin 
sio 
or 


Th( 
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D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires: 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

IPX 14X 18X ax 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmad  hart  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Coiumbio 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considering  tha  condition  and  lagibiiity 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covers  ara  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  covfcr  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  ara  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printad  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"). 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaira  filmA  fut  raproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArosIti  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

Las  images  auivantas  ont  «t«  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin.  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaira  film«,  at  en 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmage. 

Les  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplairas 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  at  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  sr; Events  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — »>  signifie  "A  SUIVRE ',  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmis  A  des  taux  da  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  c:iich«,  il  est  film*  A  partir 
de  Tangle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammas  suivants 
illustrant  la  m^thoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

S 

6 

r? 


0- 


oAazt/uvest 
CoUectio/v 


pF7 


EON 


!N  T 


SPEECH 


OP 


pON.  C.  GOODYEAR,  OF  NEW  YORK, 


ON 


THE  OREGON  QUESTION, 


DELIVERED 


IN  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  FRIDAY,  JANUARY  1(J,  1846. 


WASHINGTON: 

BLAIR  &  RIVES,  PRINTERS. 

1846. 


r 


'he  RcRolutif 
tlio  noticp  ft 
p.iiicy  of  th< 
fiidcration  ir 

Mr.  GOOD' 

Mr.  Chairs 
lie  discuswior 
esfiiirily,  fron 
batiMl;  and  I 
f  tlip  House  1 
iew.s  ill  re^nr 

verj'  brief  d( 
ontidl  my  ;ict 

aiuill  deem  it 
lOfiidon  of  t!ic 
eliiile  the  mai 
omewhat  loe 
vestern  mea.ii 
roin  an  additi 
•.ign  invasion  i 
ispect  s<i  far  a 
o  lie  aptirehei 
)e  diflleult  to  I 
new  of  tlic  11 
West  can  c\i 
if  tlie  Union, 
Tiilitary  hiirdc 
>f  a  tract  of  u 
irerge  of  its  a! 
lor  liow  the 
ifiore  viilneral: 
liar  institution 
in  the  pcaceah 
other  States  ( 
valuable  intcn 
be,  the  West 
liebate  almo.st 
ducted  it  as  i 
issue;  and  yei 
confederacy.  ( 
ly  to  discover 
Atlantic  State 
intcre.st  in  ar 
threatened  a  r 
foreign  Powe: 
more  cxtensi\ 
State,  and  w 
that  of  the  wl 
war  with  Gr{ 
upon  her  inte 
a  bhi^hting  in 
to  ask  for  th 
•yrnpathy  on 
<htioii,  nor  to 


THE    OREGON   QUESTION. 


'ho  RcRolutinn  authorizing  the  President  to  give 
tiie  notice  for  the  terniiniilion  of  the  joint  occu- 
pancy of  the  Oregon  Territory  being  under  con- 
sideration in  Committee  of  the  Whole — 

Mr.  GOODYEAR  spoke  as  follows  : 
Mr.  Ciiairmak:  I  ohnerve  that  the  interest  in 
lis  discujiwion,  tliough  not  in  the  subject,  has  ne- 
essariiy,  from  its  protracted  character,  very  much 
bated:  and  I  cannot  liope  to  claim  the  attention 
f  the  Tlouse  to  any  lengthened  exposition  of  my 
iews  in  regard  to  it.     I  therefore  jiropose  simply 
▼•■ry  brief  detail  of  the  considerations  which  will 
ontrnl  my  action  in  connexion  with  tlie  vote  which 
shall  deeni  it  iny  duty  to  give  upon  the  final  dis- 
lOfiilion  of  the  question.     In  the  early  ]iart  of  this 
ebate  the  matter  seemed  to  take  a  sectional,  and 
omewhat  local  character;   it   vras   said    to  be  a 
vestern  measure,  so  far  as  any  advantages  arising 
rom  an  addition  of  territory  and  safety  from  for- 
lign  invasion  is  concerned;  and  to  have  a  southern 
ispecl  so  far  as  the  desolating  effects  of  war  were 
o  be  apprehended  from  its  prosectition.     It  might 
)e  ditllcult  to  give  any  very  good  reason  for  eitiier 
new  f)f  the  matter;     I  cannot  conceive  how  the 
West   can    claim   any   advaiUages  over    the   rest 
>f  the  Union,  either  by  May  of  exemjitioti  from 
nilitary  burdens,  in  case  of  war,  or  by  the  addition 
if  p  tract  of  uninhabited  territory  upon  the  outer 
rerge  of  its  already  almost  boundle.=;s  wilderness; 
lor  how  the  South,  ludesii!  she  may  be  deemed 
ifiore  vulnerable  in  conseqiu;nce  of  her  own  pecu- 
liar institutions,  can  claim  any  exclusive  interest 
in  the  pca<'eable  settlement  of  this  controversy  over 
other  States  equally  exposed,  and  with  far  more 
valuable  interests  at  stake.     But  however  that  may 
be,  the  West  and  the  South  had,  for  a  time,  the 
debate  almost  exclusively  to  themselves,  and  con- 
ducted it  as  if  they  alone  were  interested  in  the 
LsBue;  and  yet,  sir,  in  looking  over  the  map  of  this 
confederacy,  even  a  casual  oi)serverwoidd  he  like- 
ly to  discover  that  New  York,  as  well  as  other 
Atlantic  States,  nuist  necessarily  havc^  some  slight 
interest  in  any  (Question,  the  agitation   of  which 
threatened  a  rupture  of  our  peaceable  relations  with 
foreign  Powers.     With  a  lake  and  Atlantic,  coast 
tnore  extensive  and  expo.'^ed  than  that  of  any  other 
State,  and  with  a  commerce  more  valuable  than 
that  of  the  whole  residue  of  the  Union  together,  a 
war  with  Great  Britain,  at  this  time,  w-(i  dd  fall 
upon  her  interests  and  resources  with  a       ..ihing, 
a  blighting  infiuence;  aiid  yet,  sir,  I  stand  not  here 
to  ask  for  the  State  of  New  York  any  peculiar 
•yrnpathy  on  account  of  her  doubly  exjiosed  con- 
dition, nor  to  claim,  in  imitation  of  the  example  of 


most  gentlemen  who  have  spoken  upon  this  sub- 
ject in  behalf  of  their  respective  States,  any  parti- 
cular merit  for  patriotic  devotion.  It  is  sufficient 
for  me  to  say,  that  she  asks  no  exclusive  regard 
for  her  interests,  and  that  now,  as  at  all  times,  she 
is  ready  to  discharge  her  whole,  duty  to  the  com- 
monwealth. And  if  national  rights,  interest.**,  or 
honor,  shall  demand  flu'  sacrifice,  slie  counsels  no 
craven  policy,  though  the  issue  sliould  involve  the 
annihilation  of  her  commerce,  the  d<Tiniation  of 
her  citizens,  and  the  exposure  of  her  towns  and 
cities  to  plunder  and  conflagration;  she  is  even 
no  w  speaking  upon  this  momentous  subject  through 
the  medium  of  h<'r  own  State  Legislature,  and  1 
doubt  not  that  her  voice,  when  heard,  will  awaken 
a  sentiment  in  every  bosom,  and  an  echo  from 
every  lip,  worthy  in  all  respects  of  the  Empire 
State. 

Rut,  sir,  without  regard  to  any  action  of  my  own 
State  upon  the  subject,  I  had,  in  the  early  stages  of 
thisd(!bate,  for  reasons  satisfactory  to  myself,  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  this  resolution  should  pas.s 
this  House,  and  that  the  President  should  take  im- 
mediate action  under  it.  Thirty  years  of  unsuc- 
cessful negfUiation  would  of  itself  seem  to  demand 
some  mon;  eflicient  action.  Diplomacy  has  ex- 
hausted its  skill,  an<l  a  more  auspicious  period  has 
been  sought  in  procrastination;  but  the  one  has 
only  added  to  its  embarrassments,  and  the  other 
multiplied  its  difficulties  and  dtuigers. 

May  I  bejiermitted  to  ask  gentlemen  who  coun- 
sel further  delay,  when  they  prrtpose  to  terminate 
this  controversy  .-  Are  we  to  bequeath  this  deferred 
quarrel,  rendered  doubly  complicated  by  delay  and 
unsucceasful  negotiation,  as  n  legacy  to  our  chil- 
dren .'  Ah,  sir,  even  if  that  timid  and  tardy  policy 
could  be  deemed  honorable  and  ])atriotic,  it  is  no 
longer  practicable.  The  time  has  g".ie  by  when 
safety  might  be  found  in  supineness.  The  relaticna 
of  the  two  countries  growing  out  of  this  controversy 
have  assumed  a  critical  and  alarming  attitude.  The 
feverisii  and  excited  state  of  the  public  mind  de- 
mands immediate  action,  and  mighty  interests  await 
the  result.  The  provisions  of  the  joint  convent'  n 
will  not  be  observed,  in  fact,  though  they  he  <  ..n- 
tinued  in  form.  The  efforts  of  the  two  countries 
will  be  stimulated  by  re<.'ently  excited  jealousien, 
to  fortify  and  de fend  their  respective  claims.  Con- 
fidence and  tViendly  intercourse  will  be  destroyed, 
andallthecommercial  relationsof  the  iwocountriee, 
and  with  the  rest  of  the  world,  v/ill  be  constrained 
and  embarrassed  by  th(!  over-recurring  danger  of 
an  immediate  and  fatal  collision.  iMi^elTe.ct  of 
the  existence  of  this  siite  of  things  between  two 
of  the  greatest  commercial  nations  upon  earth  is 


i 


1.  X.i: 


Ui.:^'f  ...i 


too  apparent  to  leave  room  for  a  doubt  that  it  can- 
not loiitf  continue.  Kvery  nerve  and  fibre  of  tli(: 
body  |iolilie  is  trcniblin;;Iy  alive  to  llie  slij^htcat  in- 
dication of  menace  or  a;;};rc.s.sion;  enterprise  is  re- 
strained, business  at  a  stand;  the  public,  pulse  is 
madly  bounding;  with  excitement;  and  if  the  ad- 
justnient  of  Ih*;  ditliculty  be  much  Ioniser  deferred, 
cither  a  surrender  of  the  whole  territory,  or  war, 
with  all  its  consefiuences,  will  be  sounht  as  a  re- 
lief tVoni  this  wild  fever  of  apprehension  and  sus- 
pense. 

Beside,  sir,  I  said  there  were  mighty  interests 
awaitini;  the  issue.  The  proijress  of  events  with- 
in the  few  past  years  bus  vastly  eiilmnc.ed  the  value 
of  this  territory.  When  the  convention  was  first 
entered  into,  the  disputed  domain  was  deemed  of 
little  moment;  it  has  even  been  questioned  whether 
it  would  not  morejiroperly  con.slitute  an  indejiend- 
eiit  sovereif^nty  than  a  ijart  of  our  confederacy.  But 
recent  improvements  in  the  facilities  of  transport- 
ation and  intercourse  have  rendered  the  ports  on 
the  Pacific  coast  contiguous  to  our  territory  of  iin- 
nieiise  iin|)ortaiice.  It  can  no  lonj^er  be  doubted 
that,  unless  the  onward  pro5;ress  of  our  country  is 
checked  by  a  devustatini;  war  with  Euro})e,  the 
mouth  of  the  Hudson  and  the  Columbia  will,  ere 
lon<,',  by  means  of  the  railroad  and  magnetic  wires, 
be  brought  into  close  communion.  However  stu- 
pendous the  |)roject  may  ajipear,  its  early  accom- 
plishment is  nevertheless  within  tiie  limits  of  the 
enterprise  and  highly  stimulated  energies  of  ihe 
day.  The  late  revolution  in  the  foreign  policy  of 
China  has  awakened  the  attention  of  the  public  to 
the  importance  of  this  overland  communicaliou  be- 
tween our  Pacific  and  Atlantic  coasts.  I  can  con- 
ceive that  the  whole  trade  of  the  Celestial  Empire 
may  be  diverted  through  this  channel,  and  that 
Europe  may  find  her  India  market  where  she  now 
purchases  Iter  cotton,  tobacco,  and  corn. 

But  the  first  ste))  in  the  jirosecution  of  this  vast 
enterprise  cannot  be  taken  until  this  convention  for 
a  Joint  oct^upancy  is  abrogated.  Again,  sir,  our 
citizens  are  liowing  into  that  territory  in  one  con- 
tinuous tide  of  emigration.  They  leave  behind 
them  the  graves  of  their  ancestors,  but  carry  with 
them,  together  with  our  language,  our  manners  and 
customs,  and  all  those  natural  afiections  which  at- 
tach them  to  the  land  of  their  birth.  They  demand 
the  protection  of  our  laws;  but  this  we  cannot  | 
grant  them  during  the  existence  of  this  treaty  for 
joint  occu))ancy.  Perfect  protection  to  the  citizen 
admits  of  no  divided  sovereignty.  And  yet  we 
cannot  deny  it  them,  without  being  recreant  to  our 
duty,  and  faithless  to  our  trust.  Sir,  1  admit  that 
the  Roman  Republic,  although  frequently  alluded 
to  by  gentlemen  in  the  progress  of  this  debate,  fur- 
nishes no  model  for  our  imitation.  1  should  deep- 
ly regret  to  read  our  future  in  the  page  of  blended 
virUie  and  crimes — of  justice  and  oppression — of 
magnanimity  and  meanness — of  fidelity  and  trea- 
son— of  profuse  generosity  and  the  most  gracping 
cupidity — of  glorious  victories  and  wide-spread 
desolation,  which  mark  her  patluvay  to  universal 
empire.  The  deep  shadows  of  her  decline  and 
fall  stand  out  too  ready  and  pertinent  a  comment- 
ary upon  the  crimes  which  contributed  to  her  ele- 
vation. The  justice  which  broke  the  sceptre  of  her 
power  was  too  prompt  and  retributive,  and  her 
final  degradation  was  too  dark  and  despairing,  to 
make  her  career  the  object  of  rational  ambition.    I 


cherish  the  hope  of  a  brighter  page  for  my  c( 
try's  history — one  less  bespolted  with  blood, 
sullied  with  tears.  But  ihe  varied  page  is  bt : 
us;  and,  with  a  disposition  to  profit  by  the  te; 
ings  of  the  jiast,  w<'  may  st  let  t  ihi;  virtues  un<l 
Ject  the  crimes.  If  in  tht  whole  histm-y  nf  Roi, 
greatness  there  is  any  one  trait  which,  nxire  t 
any  other,  challeiigis  imitalion  and  approval,] 
the  protection  which  her  policy,  in  conjuni", 
with  her  jiowcr,  all'orded  her  ciii/cns.  In  that 
even  of  lawhsv  vinlence,  Roman  citizenshij) — fil 
in  llu;  wilds  of  JMirope,  the  wastes  of  Asia,  ; 
the  deserts  of  Africa — was  a  talismiin  whi«'h 
vesK'd  its  foriuiiau'  possessor  with  an  invulnera 
panoply.  Our  citizens,  to  say  the  least  of  it, 
enlitlt;d  to  a  like  itroli'cUon  within  our  own  te, 
lory  and  upon  our  own  soil. 

But  it  is  said,  sir,  that  all  our  j)urposcs  may 
accomplished   by  delay.     As  f.ir  as  1  have  b( 
able  to  ascertain  tin;  state  of  |)arties  upon  this  si 
Ject,  there  are,  among  others,  two,  both  of  wh 
claim  the  whoh;    tf  Oregon,  but  widely  dill'er  in 
means  of  oiitaining  it.     The  one  proposes  to  j; 
the  notice,  and  immi  dialely  on  its  expiration  la 
a  Ou'ciblc  possession  of  the  whole  territory;  ; 
other,  to  del'er  the  notice,  and,  by  a  masterly 
activity — or,  in  the  more  cxjjressive  and  meaiii 
phrase  of  the  geiuieinan  from  Virginia,  [Mr.Bi 
iNtiEii,]  by  a  quiet  but  ellicicnl  action — accompli 
the  same  purpose.     The  lirst,  as  I  shall  attempt 
show  hereal'ier,  would,  in  my  view,  be  inexpcdi' 
and  unjust;  the  other,  utterly  impracticable.   \V 
England   awakened  to  the  suljcct — England,  li, 
never  slejit  upon  her  rights  or  left  her  interesis  i. 
guarded — it  would  be  worse  than  folly,  it  woi 
be  madness,  to   hope  to  gain  by  stealth  what  \ 
dare  not  demand  by  open  defiance.    Hasten  on, 
you  please,  the  emigrant  armed  with  the  axe  a 
the  riile,  and  for  every  hundred  men  who  cros.v 
the   Rocky  mountains,  England  would  erect  a 
other  fort,  mount  it  witli  her  cannon,  and  garris 
it  with  her  troops;  she  would  draw  around  her 
closer  alliance  the  Indian  tribes, and  arm  them  wi 
the  implements  of  their  savage  warfare;  and  aft' 
the  lapse  of  any  given  ])eriod  of  "  iriasterly  iiiti 
tivity,"  wc  should  find  either  the  British  in  qui 
military  possession  of  the  whole  territory,  or  t: 
war  precipitated   with  all  its  horrors,  which  ti 
gentleman  so  much  deprecates  and  dreads.    The: 
indeed,  in  the  gentleman's  own  eloquent  langua^" 
might  we  hear  burdening  every  breeze  from  ti 
west,  the  savage  yell  and  the  shriek  of  tortuit 
then  miglil  we  see,  not  in  imagination  but  in  fm 
the  bones  of  the  emigrants  whitening  the  j)rairi(.' 
and  his  own  favorite  eagle  uttering  his  wild  cr 
above  their  mutilated,  blackened,  and  festering  bi 
dies.      JNo,  sir,  if  we  wish  to  avoid  the  horror 
\vhich  the  gentleman  has  so  elotjuenlly  depictcii 
we  must  settle  this  question  of  disputed  bound 
ary  before   our  people  are  madly  thrust  upon  ili' 
danger.     What,  sir,  is   it  )>roposed  to  send  oii 
citizens  forward  into  the  wilderness,  far  beyoiu 
the  reach  of  aid,  expose  them  to  all  the  vicissitude 
of  a  forest  life,  and  the  more  terrible  weapons  of; 
powerful  nation,   united   with  a  savage  foe — am 
when  their  prov/ess  and  fortitude  shall  have  over 
come  all  obstacles,  and  their  industry  made  the  for 
est  bloom  around  them,  to  exemplify  the  benign 
influence  and  protecting  care  of  our  Governmeiii 
by  kindly  extending  over  them  our  laws,  and  visit- 


& 


pii^o  {'•)r  my  a 
(|(J  with  liloixJ, 
riwj   pii^'i-  i.s  l)(-: 
|>n)fii  l)y  tlie  tc, 

iht;  virHifH  uiiil 
•  llistrn-y  of  Koi, 

wliicli,  more  i 

mill  a|)|in)vul, ; 
I'y,  111  fodjiinr; 
iyt'iiH.     Iirthiit 

tuiiznii.slii|) — ill 
isles  of  Asia, ; 
tiilisniiiii  wliicli 
nil  all  iiivuliiLTii 
llie  Ica.st  of  it, 
liii  our  own  U. 

purposes  may 
ir  as  1  have  L( 
ties  uiioii  tills  Si 
'o,  Loth  of  wh 
videlydi/rer  in: 
:  proposes  to  f; 
t.s  expiration  ta 
lole  territory;  ; 
l)y  a  iiiaateiiy 
sive  and  meaiii 
r^ciiiia,  [Mr.  IJi 
;lion — a(:eoni|))i 

I  sliuil  altcm|)i 
w,  be  iiiexpcdi. 
)ra('tieal)le.  W 
•t — Eiijfjiand,  li 
.  Jier  interesiH  i. 

II  folly,  it  woi 
'  slealtli  wlmt  \ 
e.  Hasten  on, 
i'itli  llie  axe  n 
ineji  wlio  cros^ 
would  erect  a 
on,  and  ^arris 
w  around  lier 
id  arm  them  wi 
arfare;  and  uf(. 
"  masterly  inn 
1  British  in  (jn, 
territory,  or  i. 
•I'ors,  which  ti 
I  dreads.  Tlic! 
iquent  ianguui;. 
jreeze  from  l! 
riek  of  tortuit 
ition  hut  in  fai 
iiiff  the  j)rairi(  • 
iiii,'  his  wild  (■!■ 
nd  festerinj^  bi 
aid  the  liormi 
uently  depictcij 
iisputed  bound 
thrust  upon  tli 
ed  to  send  on 
:ss,  far  beyom 
tiic  vicissitudi 
le  weapons  of. 
iva^e  foe — am 
hail  have  over 
■y  made  the  for 
ify  the  benififi: 
\r  Governmeiii 
laws,  and  visit- 


ing them  with  the  tax-pathcrer?  Such  was  the 
protection  wiiich  Knfjlanil  vouchsafed  to  her  colo- 
nies,and  wliicli  they  indifjnantly  hurled  buck  upon 
her.  In  my  judi^mcnt,  this  policy  pursued,  the 
war  will  be  speedy  and  inevitable;  and  by  j^ivirif:; 
the  notice,  it  will  be  eipially  certain  to  be  avoided. 
Tlie  notice,  if  jL!;ivcn,  will  be  in  pursuance  of  a 
treaty  sii|)ulali()n;  and  its  effect  will  be  simply  to 
throw  into  our  exclusive  possession  a  larj2;t'  portion 
of  tiiis  territory,  the  title  to  which  is  undisputed, 
and  leave  the  residue  to  be  settled  by  ncjjotiatioii, 
Hccoiiijiaiiied,  however,  witli  an  admonition  wliich 
may  not  be  disregarded  as  to  the  necessity  of  its 
speedy  adjuslnient. 

War  cannot  be  the  direct  or  necessary  result  of 
the  notiii!  to  ahro^^ate  this  convention.  That  con- 
tingency will  depend  upon  another  and  far  more 
important  tpiestion,  to  which  I  shall  presently  al- 
lude. I  confess  that,  if  war  were  to  be  the  neces- 
sary coiisefiuence,  as  some  seem  to  apprehend,  of 
the  passay;e  of  this  resolution,  I  should  hesitate,  at 
all  events  until  a  certain  other  measure  had  first 
found  its  way  through  this  House — that  of  provi- 
ding for  the  public  (lefence.  I  do  not  subscribe  to 
the  oft -repeated  doctrine,  that  the  genius  of  our  in- 
stitutions must  necessarily  subject  us  to  defeat  in 
the  commencement  of  a  war.  We  need  not  be 
prepared  for  offensive  operations;  we  want  no 
standing  army,  but  the  material  for  defence  should, 
at  all  times,  l)e  complete;  we  should  be  satisfied  by 
the  report  of  competent  engineers,  that  the  requi- 
site nirnber  of  guns  arc  mounted  uyion  our  de- 
fences and  fit  for  service;  we  can  at  all  times  find 
hands  to  man  them.  I  could  not  consent  that,  by 
any  hasty  action  of  ours,  the  important  seaports 
of  the  Atlaniic  coast  should  be  exposed  to  a  sud- 
den and  fatal  attack,  nor  that  our  country  should 
ever  again  lie  disgraced  by  having  the  very  walls 
of  her  Capitol  blackened  by  the  torch  of  an  inva- 
ding foe.  But  no  war  need  be  apprehended  from 
this  measure.  These  conflicting  claims  existed 
before  this  convention  was  entered  into,  and  no 
war  ensued;  they  may  exist  again  upon  like  terms. 
But  the  gentleman  from  Alabama  [Mr.  Yancey] 
says  the  convention  was  a  substitute  for  war.  No, 
sir;  it  was  a  wretched  substitute  for  firm  and  effi- 
cient negotiation;  it  was  this  putting  off  the  en- 
countering of  difficulties,  which  time  alone  has 
rtindercd  formidable.  There  have  been  several 
periods  at  which  this  controversy  might  have  been 
favorably  adjusted.  It  is  now  well  known  that 
Lord  Ashburton  had  full  instructions  from  his  gov- 
ernment upon  this  question,  and  it  is  believed  that 
he  was  prepared  to  make  liberal  concessions  in  the 
northwest  for  tnc  advantages  which  he  actually 
gained  in  the  northeast  without  them.  If  the  Gov- 
ernment had,  at  that  time,  firmly  insisted  upon 
connecting  the  two  questions,  we  should  not  now 
be  troubled  with  this ;  but  the  then  Administration 
preferred  the  continuance  of  this  substitute  for  di- 
plomatic firmness  and  efficiency.  Happily  we 
have  at  length  arrived  at  a  period  when  neither  the 
state  of  the  affair  itself,  nor  the  inclination  of  the 
Administration  will  admitof  longer  delay. 

But  I  proceed  to  the  consideration  of  the  more 
important  question — that  of  the  extent  to  which 
our  right  to  the  possession  of  the  territory  should 
be  asserted  under  the  notice.  It  is  the  uncertainty 
of  the  policy  of  our  Government  upon  this  ques- 
tion, which  has  alone  multiplied  the  chances  of  war. 


Upon  this  branch  of  the  subject,  after  Inokinff 
over  the  whole  ground,  I  cannot  rid  myself  of  the 
conviction  that  I^Ingland  has  some  rights  in  Ore- 
gon— rights  commencing  in  some  pretensions  to 
early  discovery,  continued  by  a  partial  occupation, 
and  confirmed  by  thirty  years'  negotiation  and 
numerous  treaties — negotiations  entered  upon  and 
conducted  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  settling  a 
boundary,  not  the  title,  tuid  terminating  in  treaties 
for  the  Joint  oc-cupation  of  the  whole  territory,  hut 
conceding  no  superior  rights  or  paramount  title  to 
either  jiarty.  It  is  with  this  view  of  the  matter  that 
I  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  the  action  of  our  own 
Government  has  conceded  to  England  some  rights 
in  the  territory  of  Oregon.  But  the  extent  of  those 
rights — we  having  the  better  title — must  depend 
entirely  upon  our  sovereign  will  and  pleasure.  The 
determination  of  that  will  has  been  repeatedly  ex- 
pressed by  our  Government,  and  recently  signified 
to  the  British  minister  resident  in  this  city ,  by  a  pro- 
position to  divide  the  territory  by  the  49th  parallel 
of  latitude.  This,  sir,  1  take  it,  is  the  extreme  limit 
to  which  concession  will  Le  carried.  This  division 
of  the  territory  has  been  repeatedly  offered  to  Great 
Britain;  and  those  offers  constitute  almost  the  sole 
foundation  of  her  title.  Whether  it  be  viewed, 
then,  in  the  light  of  a  gratuity,  or  a  concession 
for  comiiromise,  the  just  pride  and  acknowledged 
power  of  the  nation  alike  forbid  the  resumption  of 
the  gift.  The  American  people  should  scorn  to 
retract  the  clnritable  boon.  But  I  have  said  that 
Britain  has  claims  to  this  territory  which,  by  our 
own  concessions,  have  ripened  into  rights.  Let 
us  for  a  moment  reverse  the  picture,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ascertaining  the  more  clearly  whether  this 
position  be  tenable.  Suppose  (which  is  the  truth) 
the  two  countries  had  conflicting  claims  to  the 
whole  of  this  territory,  claims  resting  somewhat 
in  illy  authenticated  journals  of  navigators  and  in 
vague  tradition;  suppose  (which  is  also  the  truth) 
that,  for  the  purpose  of  settling  these  conflicting 
claims,  negotiation  should  be  resorted  to,  and 
should  result  in  unsuccessful  propositions  on  both 
sides  to  divide  the  territory,  but  by  different  lines, 
and  should  finally  terminate  in  a  convention  for  the 
joint  occupation  of  the  whole  territory,  conceding 
exclusive  rights  to  neither;  that  this  state  of  things 
should  continue  for  the  period  of  some  thirty  years, 
and  in  the  mean  time  the  citizens  of  both  countries 
should  make  partial  settlements  upon  those  por- 
■ions  of  the  territory  which,  by  all  the  proposi- 
tions on  both  sides,  were  conceded  to  be  the  exclu- 
sive })roperty  of  their  respective  countries.  Sup- 
pose, then,  that  Britain,  with  the  same  show  of 
better  title  which  we  now  exhibit,  should  turn 
upon  us  and  claim  the  whole:  what  would  be  our 
answer?  We  would  say:  you  have  conceded  to  us 
rights;  our  citizens  have  taken  possession  accord- 
ingly; they  are  entitled  to  our  protection,  and  an 
impartial  world  will  justify  us  in  maintaining  those 
rights,  if  neces.sary,  by  a  resort  to  arms.  And  we 
would  do  it.  We  would  feel  it  unnecessary  to  go 
further  back  for  title,  but  would  unhesitatingly 
hurl  back  the  threats  of  England  by  a  stern  de- 
fiance. 

I  am  aware,  sir,  that  a  claim  in  our  favor  para- 
mount to  all  others  has  been  set  up — that  of  mani- 
fest destiny.  It  runs  thus:  God  hath  given  to  this 
nation  the  western  continent  and  the  fulness  there- 
of.   This,  as  I  understand  it,  overrides  all  titles, 


1 


n 


1 


and  Hcta  (\t  ilrfinncc  all  rrnannincf,  Tliia  cluim  to 
univcrHiil  rloniinioii  was  [iiit  forth  in  tlir  (•oniirifinre- 
rrurtt  of  thin  (l('l)nt(!,  and  has  l)ncn  fiTqunntly  iiry;rd 
ill  the  coiir.sf!  of  it;  and  inon!  particularly  liy  the 
pcnfli!inati  from  Michiijan,  [Mr.  Ciiu'mav,]  as  a 
final  and  conclusivf  art^niniciit.  1  rcijrcttcd  to  hear 
the  sentiinont  avowfil  in  an  Ainnrii-an  (lon^-rcss, 
because  it  iinplios  a  (htulil  of  llit!  validity  of  our 
<»\vn  perfect  title,  and  hocausc  it  lias  ever  been 
used  to  justify  every  act  of  wholesale  violence  and 
nipine  tdatever  disi^racfid  the  history  of  the  world 
It  is  the  roblicr's  title;  but  its  re<'ord  is  aeconipa- 
iiicd  by  the  instructive  lesson  that  it  ultimately 
meets  the  robber's  doom.  The  Macedonian  con- 
queror consulted  tli'j  Dt'lpbic  oracle,  and  havinj^ 
obtained  from  the  priestess  an  emiivoc;il  answer, 
■which,  in  his  construction,  gave  linn  the  right,  iiy 
mnniftst  (Ivsliny,  to  conquer  ihe  world,  he  jiursued 
his  career  of  victory  amid  sighs  and  tears  and 
blood,  over  homes  and  heartlis  made  desolate,  cities 
■wasted,  and  prostrate  thrones,  until,  standing  on 
the  verge  of  the  tlien  habitable  glolic,  he  wept  that 
he  had  not  another  world  to  conquer.  Confident 
in  the  omnipotence  of  his  fate,  he  drew  around 
him  his  imperial  robes  and  proudly  boasted  of  the 
endless  duration  of  his  dynasty  and  his  throne. 
But  death  struck  the  conqueror  in  a  drunken  revel, 
and  his  fated  empire  was  broken  into  fragments, 
and  di.sappeared  from  the  earth,  like  the  sand  be- 
fore the  simoom  of  tlie  desert.  Rome,  too,  con- 
sulted her  oracles,  and  sought  in  omens  and  signs 
her  title  by  manifest  destiny  to  universal  empire. 
The  response  of  the  priest  was  jiropitious,  and  her 
legions  proceeded  to  execute  the  decree.  The  title 
lost  nothing  of  its  force  while  there  was  wealth  to 
plunder  or  nations  to  subdue;  under  it,  tlie  rap.acity 
of  the  Roman  praetor  knew  no  bounds,  his  cruelty 
no  remorse.  She  checked  not  her  career  of  vic- 
tory until  th(!  spoils  of  every  nation,  from  the  i 
pillars  of  Hercules  to  the  Indian  ocean,  swelled  the 
triumph  of  her  conquerors,  and  contributed  to  the 
luxuries  and  magnificence  of  what  she  fondly 
termed  the  Eternal  City.  "  While  the  CoUiseum 
stands  Rome  shall  stand,"  was  her  proud  boast. 
The  Colliseum  still  stands,  mcjestic  in  its  ruins; 
but  the  Eternal  City,  long  since  despoiled  of  its 
glory  and  its  power,  is  now  only  known  to  the 
traveller  as  the  city  of  shattered  columns  and 
mighty  ri^coUections.  The  modern  conqueror — the 
man  of  unbeating  heart  and  iron  nerve,  who  pur- 
sued his  purposes  with  like  unbending  firmness 
upon  the  sands  of  Egypt  and  the  snows  of  Russia 
— whose  eye  never  quailed,  and  whose  heart  never 
faltered — who  asserted  and  proved  his  title  at  the 
cannon's  mouth,  until  victory,  even,  seemed  the 
doomed  minister  of  his  stern  and  unrelenting  will — 
he,  too,  pointed  to  his  star  and  talked  of  destiny; 
but  that  bright  luminary  hiis  set  in  perpetual  night, 
and  the  eye  that  gazed  upon  its  Ijrightness  was 
closed  forever  upon  a  barren  rock  in  the  steep  At- 
lantic wave. 

Wiio  hath  read  the  book  of  fate,  or  fathomed  the 
purposes  of  the  Almighty .'  Sir,  we  may  read  the 
luture  by  the  past.  I  have  no  doubt  of  our  des- 
tiny, if  we  limit  our  ambition  to  the  development 
of  the  human  faculties  and  the  cultivation  of  the  arts 
of  peace.  With  a  territory  capable  of  sustaining 
a  larger  population  in  comfort  and  opulence  than 
any  other  country  under  one  Government  upon 
earth,  the  human  mind  can  scarcely  limit  the  pro- 


gress of  our  dominion,  cither  in  duration  or  extent. 
Ihit  if,  on  tlie  other  hand,  wc  should  be  stiaiulated 
to  tf^rritiu'ial  aggrandi/.cjinent  by  the  prospiic.t  of 
suc(;essful  war,  I  have  as  little  doubt  that  the. 
western  continent  would  soon  be  found  too  narrow 
a  sjdiere  for  our  coiupiests.  Mut  with  this  brilliant 
irospect  before  us,  we  should  reineiiibrr  that  all 
listory  conies  bur(l<Mied  with  the  admonition,  that 
the  nation  which  is  destined  to  cxtciid  its  territory 
by  conquest,  is  equally  fated  to  perish  in  the  midst 
of  its  victories.  It  In  due,  sir,  to  the  American 
firople  to  know  that  their  title,  in  this  instance, 
needs  no  such  equivocal  alliance.  In  the  .ippro- 
priat(^  language  of  the  g(  ntlcnian  from  Teiiiiessiie, 
[Mr.  Stavton,]  our  right  is  our  destiny,  not  our 
destiny  our  right.  But  we  are  led  to  cunsider,  in 
this  <'oniicxion,  the  duly  of  oiir  Govcriinient,  in 
:'ase  England  should  propose  to  reiie\cthc  iiigotia- 
tion  upon  the  basis  of  the  division  of  the  territory 
in  tile  spirit  of  amicable  adjustment.  I  answer, 
she  should  be  met  in  the  same  spirit;  and,  in  cjise 
she  should  oU'er  the  terms  ri'cently  tendered  and 
withdrawn  by  this  Governrnent,  they  should  be 
unhesitatingly  accepted.  If  it  was  consistent  with 
the  duties  of  Government  to  make  the  oHVr  then,  it 
is  proper  to  accept  it  now.  The  interests  and 
riglits  of  the  two  countries  have  in  no  resjiect 
changed  in  regard  to  this  territory.  I  do  not  say 
that  tlie  negotiation  should  lu;  reopened  at  our  in- 
stance, nor  that  any  more  fiivorable  terms  .^liould 
bo  offered  or  accepted.  On  the  contrarv,  I  think 
our  Government,  in  the  manil'estation  of  its  dispo- 
sition to  adjust  this  difficulty,  has  approached  the 
extreme.st  limit  which  the  rights,  the  interests,  or 
the  honor  of  our  country  will  warrant:  and  if  Eng- 
land should  prefer  to  try  the  issue  of  a  resort  to 
arms,  we  shall  then  be  restoi-ed  to  our  belligerent 
rights,  and  may  claim  and  take  the  wlioh;.  Eng- 
land well  knows  that  war  is  a  game  which  more 
than  one  can  play  at. 

Sir,  the  inf<!rence  I  draw  from  tliis  view  of  the 
matter  is,  that  the  notice  being  given,  the  joint  oc- 
cupancy terminated,  and  England  remaining  quiet, 
our  rights  to  exclusive  jurisdiction  should  be  as- 
serted only  up  to  the  49th  parallel  of  latitude.  This 
being  understood  to  be  the  policy  and  determina- 
tion of  our  Government,  the  chances  of  war  are 
entirely  removed.  Enghuid  will  not  incur  the  haz- 
ards of  a  war  for  an  in(!onsiderablc  tract  of  unpro- 
ductive wilderness,  the  title  to  which  she  knows  is 
clearly  and  litiquestionably  in  us.  This  beinw 
known,  the  excitement  upon  this  subject,  as  well 
in  England  as  in  this  country,  would  entirely 
subside,  and  we  should  hear  little  more  of  Ore- 
gon. 

But  if  the  extreme  policy,  of  the  whole  or  none, 
urged  by  a  few  gentlemen  iqion  this  floor,  is  to  be 
carried  out,  I  cannot  see  how  awar<'an  be  avoided. 
England  cannot,  consistently  with  her  national 
honor,  accept  less,  in  the  division  of  this  territory, 
than  has  been  repeatedly  ofli*ered  her;  and,  how- 
ever reluctant  she  may  be,  I  see  not  how  she  can 
escape  a  resort  to  this  last  dread  alternative. 

I  proceed  to  consider  for  one  moment  whether  it 
is  our  interest  to  drive  her  to  this  extremity. 

Our  national  honor  is  no  way  concerned  in  the 
matter.  By  adopting  the  49th  parallel  as  our  boun- 
dary we  make  our  own  terms,  and  dictate  them, 
too,  somewhat  imperiously  to  the  haughtiest  and 
most  powerful  nation  upon  earth.     It  is,  then,  a 


mere  m; 

to  consii 

The 

Witll    till 

bliioiUh' 
iHSiie. 
Hublima 
of  a  ri; 
(juences 
gotten, 
consequ 
it  is  tha 
him  ere 
of  these 
Iranscci 
braiidi 
llemen 
a  less  e 
First 
grees  o 
mate  in 
the  fact 
evident 
advanti 
that  vit 
We  ha 
most  ui 
ulate  tc 
aware 


I 


or  extent, 
stiiiinlatrd 
linisiK'ct  nC 


ll'llSIK.'d 

)l    Unit 


tho, 
(no  nnrniw 
liis  ln-illi(tnt 

I'T    tli;it  (ill 

litioii,  thnt 

ts  li'rri((»rv 

II  t\ii'  midst 
A  incrican 
iiislance, 

till!  iippro- 
'I'f'nne.s.scn, 

y,  not  fiiir 

uisirlcr,  in 
rniiif'tit,  in 
Ik'  m',i;ntiu- 
tcrritory 

I  nn.swer, 
11(1,  in  cnso 

ill  ri'd  and 
nliDulii  be 
f;lfMir,  with 
I'l-r  then,  it 

■fcsis  and 
lo  rnsjinct 
li>  not  say 

iit  oiir  in- 
niH  slionid 
V,  I  think 

its  dispo- 
aclieil  the 
'iTcsts,  or 
iui  if  Eng- 
[  resort  to 
htliigrront 
'III.  ling- 
ii(;h  more 

CSV  of  the 
!  joint  oc- 
in<^  quiet, 
i!d  be  as- 
de.  This 
etormina- 
■  war  are 
r  tlio  liaz- 
)f  unpro- 
knowa  is 
lis  bein^ 
t,  as  well 
entirely 
3  of  Ore- 

or  none, 
,  is  to  be 
avoided, 
national 
erritory, 
id,  how- 
she  can 
a. 

hether  it 

u  in  the 
urboun- 
te  them, 
icst  and 
then,  a 


mere  mattrr  of  expediency,  and  as  .such  I  propose 
to  consider  it. 

'I'he  value  of  the  territory  in  dL-^piite,  compared 
with  llic  c.\|i<'nf<f'N,  the  sacrifices,  llie  ^ut^(•rini;■.■', 
i)l()0(lsiic(i,  and  liorrors  of  a  war,  is  the  (picstioii  at 
iHHue.  !Sir,  I  address  not  my  ary;unii'nts  to  those 
Hubiimalcd  •j^ciitlcmcn  whoasrirt  tiiat  ilic  existence 
of  u  rijilit  prccliidcH  the  considi.'ralion  of  conse- 
()ucnccri  in  lU  assertion.  The  ;;;entlemen  have  for- 
<^otten,  or  haply  never  learned,  that  a  regard  to 
consequences  is  the  first  duty  of  a  statesman;  that 
it  is  that  alone  for  which  impartial  history  will  j;ive 
him  credit  for  sagacity  and  wisdom.  Tlie  notions 
of  these  •gentlemen  arc  somewhat  too  al)sti"ict  and 
transcendental  for  myj)resent  ](urposcs.  On  this 
branch  of  tiie  subject,  i  prefer  addrcssin^f  the  ijen- 
tlemen  upon  this  door  who  have  been  educated  in 
a  less  ethereal  school  of  statesmansliij). 

First,  then,  the  territory  comprises  some  six  de- 
jl^rees  of  latitude  north  ot  parallel  of  41).  The  cli- 
mate in  that  latitude  must  necessarily  be  severe, 
tlie  face  of  tlie  country  is  broken,  and  we  have  no 
evidence  that  any  part  of  it  po.ssesses  any  j)eculiar 
advantages  t'or  purposes  of  cultivation.  Indeed,  in 
that  view  tlie  territory  is  entirely  valueless  to  us. 
We  have  now  a  territory  which  centuries  of  the 
most  uninterrupted  national  prosperity  cannot  pop- 
ulate to  the  full  extent  of  its  capability.  I  am  well 
uwarc  of  the  adventurous  spirit  and  impatience  of 
continuity  of  the  West;  but  1  think  if  the  most  zeal- 
ous pioneer  will  join  a  caravan  for  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia,  and  pursue  his  pilgrima.i,'e  for  some  six 
months  over  a  boundless  expanse  of  forest  and 
])rairie,  without  the  siiy;n  of  a  human  habitation  and 
.scarce  the  sign  of  human  life,  where  the  wild  horse 
and  the  buH'alo  have  revelled  for  centuries  in  the 
j)rofusion  of  nature's  bnuniics,  he  will  be  most  ef- 
fectually cured  of  all  scruples  on  the  score  of  den- 
sity of  population.  Nor  is  this  jiortion  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  any  greater  value  with  a  view  to  that 
camnicrce  o  which  I  have  heretofore  alluded.  The 
49th  parallel  secures  to  us  the  Straits  of  I'\ica  and 
Puget's  sound — thus  furnishing,  for  all  the  com- 
merce of  the  East,  the  best  harbors  on  the  coaat  of 
the  Pacific  ;  and  for  thin  territory,  so  valueless,  in 
every  res|iect,  to  the  United  States,  gentlemen  jiro- 
j)Ose  to  take  the  chances  of  at  best  a  disastrous 
war  with  Great  Britain, 

Sir,  I  am  not  satisfied  by  the  remarks  wliich 
have  fallen  from  the  gentlemen  who  insist  upon  the 
whole  or  none  of  the  territory,  that  they  themselves 
have  any  very  clear  conception  of  the  means  neces- 
sary to  accomplish  their  purpose.  The  one  por- 
tion of  these  gentlemen  propose  what  has  been 
termed  a  "  masterly  inactivity;"  the  other,  imme- 
diate and  coercive  measures.  Though  1  question 
not  gentlemen's  sincerity,  nor  doubt  their  valor, 
yet  1  much  fear  that  the  lofty  pretensions  of  the 
first,  compared  with  their  supineness  of  action, 
will  pass  in  the  eye  of  the  world  as  a  veiy  shallow 
covering  for  timid  counsels — a  sort  of  whistling  to 
keep  one's  courage  up.  The  other  has  more  of  the 
bravado  in  it,  but  seems  equally  wide  of  its  pur- 
pose. True,  the  gentleman  from  Michigan  [Mi. 
Chipman]  pledges  the  State  of  Michigan  alone  to 
take  Canada  in  ninety  days.  This,  at  all  events, 
looks  like  action;  but  it  might  have  occurred  to 
that  gentleman  that  in  the  last  war  General  Hull 
proposed  a  somewhat  similar  feat,  and  issued  a 
like  boastful  procliunation;  and  in  less  tlmn  twenty 


days  thereafter  he  and  his  gallant  army  passed  b^* 
neath  the  caudine  forks.  I  intend,  sir,  no  improper 
comjiarison  between  Michigan  then  and  Michigan 
now;  I  merely  allude  to  it  for  the  purpose  of  show- 
ing that  Uti\y  pretensions  and  high-sounding  prom- 
ises are  not  always  the  best  evidences  of  faithful  and 
elHcient  performance.  Perhaps  the  gentleman  will 
make  the  application.  Anotlier  gentleman  seems 
to  think  there  will  be  a  great  deal  of  valorous  bush- 
fighting  in  Oregon,  and,  in  the  exuberance  of  hia 
fancy,  talks  about  the  fountains  of  the  Pacific  coast 
spouting  blood  until  they  shall  liave  tinged  the 
broad  ocean  with  their  crimson  currents.  Wir, 
there  will  be  no  fighting  in  Oregon,  The  few  in- 
habitants of  that  \i\»l  forest  will  be  content  to  re- 
main quiet  and  await  the  fearful  shock  which  in  to 
uproot  and  unsettle  the  nations  of  the  earth.  The 
war  will  be  in  Canada,  in  the  British  colonial 
islands,  on  our  own  frontiers,  on  the  ocean,  wher- 
ever the  two  nations  may  be  deemed  most  vulner- 
able, or  can  meet  in  deadly  and  mortal  combat. 
The  blood  and  resources  of  the  two  nations  will  be 
exhausted  in  the  fruitless  struggle.  All  the  worst 
passions  of  the  human  race  will  be  aroused  and 
brought  into  fierce  action;  commerce  will  be  de- 
stroyed, civilization  retarded,  and  the  progress  of 
improvement  rolled  back  for  half  a  century;  the 
bonds  of  society  will  be  ruptured  and  the  aflTectioni 
crushed;  the  page  that  records  the  triumph  will  be 
streaked  with  blood,  and  the  cheer  that  hails  the 
victory  will  meet  with  no  response  at  the  desolate 
fireside  and  in  the  breaking  heart. 

It  is  well  said,  that  no  little  war  can  hereafter  be 
waged  between  these  two  great  and  powerful  na- 
tions; no  war  of  outposts  and  detachments.    It.  will 
be  England,  with  all  her  tremendous  military  re- 
sources, matched  with  the  aroused  and  terrible  en- 
ergies of  a  nation  of  freemen — the   long-deferred 
contest  for  the  dominion  of  the  western  continent  I 
and  for  maritime  supremacy — the  fearful  death- 
struggle  with  which  foe  grapples  foe,  and  falters 
not  nor  yields,  until  death  unnerves  the  muscle 
and  relaxes  the  grasp.     It  would  be  well  for  gen- 
tlemen who  talk  thus  flippantly  of  a  contest  where 
olows  are  to  be  given  and  not  received,  where  lau- 
rels are  to  be  won  without  the  cypress,  to  turn  their 
attention  for  a  little  to  the  magnitude  of  hostile  pre- 1 
parations,  and  learn  to  look  the  realities  of  war  I 
steadily  and  stenily  in  the  face.     The  time  for  the  I 
exercise  of  all  their  courage  and  patriotism  may  be  J 
nearer  than  they  suppose.     War  will  not  ensue  I 
from  any  disputed  boundary  in  Oregon,  unless  itl 
be  precipitated  by  our  own   indiscretion.     If  wel 
yield  to  England  the  territory  north  of  the  49th  I 
l)arallel— and  more  than  that  she  should  not  have— I 
and  war  then  ensue,  the  disputed  boundary  willl 
be  the  pretext,  not  the  cause.     If,  i;)  her  newly-l 
awakened  apprehensions  for  the  safety  of  her  colo-l 
nies  on  the  western  continent,  it  is  the  purpose  oi 
England  at  this  time,  in  conjunction  with  otherl 
European  Powers,  to  humble  the  pride  and  crip- 
ple the  resources  of  this  Republic,  concession  onl 
our  part  would  be  worse  than  useless.    Give  her 
■  e  whole  of  Oregon,  and  she  will  find  a  pretext  for 
the  quarrel;  she  will  find  it  in  California,  in  Mex- 
ico, on  tlie  reefs  of  Florida,  or  the  banks  of  New- 
foundland,   She  will  find  it  wherever  the  red  crosa 
meets  the  flag  of  the  Union  on  the  ocean.    Conces- 
sion on  our  part  would  not  prevent  nor  long  post-j 
pone  the  struggle;  and  the  more  resolutely  we  meet 


8 


it  ih  thr,  iwscrlion  of  ihn  pHnriplc  of  (Irninnrlin(» 
notliinj;  liut  wimt  is  clciirly  liijht,  and  Nulirniitiiif^ 
t(i  riotliitii;  wntni;,  ilm  more  n  lulily  niuy  wc  hope 
for  (I  Hp«'t'(ly  and  j'livomlile  Inmuc. 

Sir,  the  dan{?(!r  may  !»!  rcnioic — apprcliPtiMJon 
may  lie  chunuIcmh.  I  am  imlincd  to  dunk  tliat  the 
time  had  gone  hy  wlicn  thr.  combined  intercNiH  of 
European  mcniarchie.s  pouhl  .seriouNly  tiiink  of  ai^ 
restin};;  tiic  proj^rews  of  liumiiti  rif,'hls,  at  least  on 
the  western  continent.  Dnt  "  coniini;  events  cast 
their  shadows  hefore."  The  insidions  susrilistion 
of  a  halance  of  power  npnn  this  eonlini'nt  manifests 
a.  tremMiniij  apprehension  that  the  Atlantic  is  not 
broad  and  deep  en"uu;h  to  protect  the  Kast  from  the 
nll-encroachinij  inflni'iices  of  rational  Imt  proirrcs- 
Bive  Democracy.  Tlie  political  atmosphere  of  Ku- 
rope  has  hecome  dark  and  lurid;  element.s  never 
before  comUiiud  are  now  found  in  close  alliance. 
Our  ancient  friend  and  ally  is  prompt  to  suir^est  to 
its  ancient  and  hereditary  enemy  the  readiest  nit  nns 
of  checkina;  the  prof^ress  of  the  far-reachiii2;  Re- 
public. The  gatherin;:^  storm  is  precedet  hy  the 
deep  mutterings  of  the  distant  thunder.  No  hu- 
man f(M'e.sight  can  foretell  tiie  fearfid  cntuKtrophe 
which  may  be  produced  by  the  bold  assertion  of  a 
political  right,  when  the  contest  is  stimulated  by 
the  passions  engendered  in  the  warfare  of  conflict- 
ing principles.  Hampden,  by  res^isting  the  collec- 
tion of  a  sixpenny  tax,  aroused  a  spirit  in  England 
■whi(  h  never  again  slept  until  it  liail  overturned  the 
throne,  and  brought  the  head  of  its  monarch  to 
tlie  block.  The  colonies,  by  resisting  an  equally 
trifling  tax  uixm  lea,  dismr-mbered  the  British  em- 
pire, and  laid  the  foundation  for  n  great  'ind  now 
powerful  Ilepubiic.  What  mighty  revolutions 
may  now  be  on  the  verge  of  their  accompli.shrnent, 
it  is  impossible  for  us  to  f<n'esee.  In  tlie  mean 
time,  it  is  our  policy  to  nwait  coolly  the.  progress 
of  events,  with  a  firm  reliance  upon  our  undoubted 
rights,  and  a  stern  determination  to  maintain  them 
at  all  and  every  liazard. 

Sir,  my  allotted  time  has  nearly  expired,  and  I 
have  but  a  word  more  to  say.  I  hope  that  the 
boundary  of  the  49th  parallel  may  be  understood 


to  be  our  ultimate  oflTer,  and  that  it  will  not  bo  re- 
newed, but  ihiit  it  will  Ik-  cniiHidered  thn  limit  of 
I  (inr  <-lami,  whilst  the  peaceful  reliitidiis  nf  the  two 
I  countries  remain  unbroken;  but  if,  c<tnir«ry  to  my 
'  Jmlgmeiit  and  my  sense  of  justice,  the  doctrine  of 
the  whole  of  Oregon  or  none  should  prevail  with 
the  Adininistration,  I  would  then  say  that  I  am 
fully  aware  of  the  objection.^  to  engaging  in  a  war 
with  Great  iiritain  U|i(in  the  issue  presented  in 
this  c(Mitrov(rsy.  I'erhajis  no  American  citizen 
now  living  I'ould  lie  personally  beiietited  by  the  re- 
sult of  the  contes't,  hftwevrr  favorai)le.  It  would 
imply,  then,  a  large  draught  upon  our  national 
feelings  to  expect  a  cordial  and  unanimous  assent 
to  measures  which  must,  of  necessity,  involve 
such  a  mighty  t:a<'rifice.  Ihit,  sir,  I  can  easily  un- 
dei-Ktand  tlnit  tiiere  may  be  conditions  of  national 
rights  and  national  honor  which  imperiously  de- 
mand this  last  evidence  of  devotion  to  one 'sconmry. 
Fully  impressed  with  tiie  fearfid  responsibility 
risting  upon  the  repre^^entatives  of  the  people,  I 
would  then  cease  to  iiKpiire  into  the  justice  or  expe- 
diency of  maintaining  the  stand  taken  by  the  t,x- 
ecutive;  I  would  merely  counsel  the  most  prompt 
and  liiieral  appropriations  for  the  public  defence, 
aiul,  if  war  be  inevitable — as  i  believe  it  would  l)e 
in  that  contini^ency — for  prosecuting  it  with  vigor; 
for,  while  iny  saniriiine  hopes  for  her  future  pros- 
peri'v  prom|it  the  patriotic,  sentiment— '' My  coun- 
try ,  may  she  ever  be  right,"  yet  the  knowledge 
that  my  fortunes,  by  inclination,  if  lot  nec.eKsity, 
are  inseparably  connected  with  hers,  impels  me  to 
add,  "  but  right  or  wrong,  still  mycoutury."  My 
feelings  and  sympathies  are  associated  indissolubly 
with  the  land  of  my  birth;  and  if  iier  fair  promise 
and  high  hopes  are  to  be  realized  in  her  future 
greatness,  I  shall,  in  common  with  the  rest  of  my 
countrymen,  enjoy  the  glory  of  the  alliance;  but 
if  the  cloud  which  is  now  lowering  is  to  burst  witli 
fatal  fury,  and  her  bright  star  is  destined  to  set 
in  darkness  and  gloom,  I  cannot,  1  seek  not,  to 
separate  my  fortunes.  I  and  mine,  and  ail  that  I 
prize  iuid  love,  must  Kharc  her  fate. 


I 


V 


it  will  not  lip  re- 
nd  tlin  limit  of 
lidii.s  oC  till!  two 

•  oiiiniry  to  my 

I  tlif  (loriritu;  of" 
iil'l  Jirfviiil  with 

»ny  that  I  nm 
•j:i^s:o\<j:  in  n  war 
!«'  I'lTsfiiif'd  in 
mcricnn  citi/.crj 
cfiit'd  [)v  the  r«!- 
»l>h'.     /l  would 

II  n<ir  iialioniii 
tnimouN  a.MHfnt 
'■-^^iiy,   involve 

•  an  <n,sily  un- 
'iH  of  natiorinl 
iipmoiisly  de- 
oncNcoiiniry. 
rcsponNihility 
lliP  pf'o[.le,  I 

istice  or  cxpe- 
'■n  by  the  Ex- 
'  most  prompt 
iililic,  (Icfctic.e, 
'P  it  would  be 
it  with  viijor; 
r  future  j)ros- 
^*'Mycoun- 
10  knowlpdj^e 
lot  nec'i'HNity, 
impels  me  to 
ititry."    My 
iiidiHsolubly 
fiiir  promise 
»  her  future 
f  rest  of  my 
alliance;  but 
:o  burst  witli 
itined  to  set 
seek  not,  to 
lid  all  that  I 


.J 


:(  y 


'.V 


